New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-25
SHARP is READY FOR TRIAL.
He STILL MAINTAINS A BOLD FRONT.

SOME QUEER FEATURES OF IHE TESTIMONY GIVEN
BY HIM TO THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY
Jacob Sharp left his home at No. 326 West Twenty
thirdst at early hour yesterday and did not return
till evening He passed the day in consultation over
his approaching trial. to set day for which the Dis
trict-Attorney is to move this morning Mr.. sharp
declared that he ready for trial, had been tor
some time, ond had been urging it, as he believed, he
said, that there was no proof against hun in any way.
shape or form direct indirect" duplicating him In
any bribery attempt Of bribery of the Board OF
Aldermen of 1884.
The action of the District Attorney in proceed
ing to try Mr. Sharp brings up OF the incl tents
and the striking phases OF the testimony be ore the
Senate Railroad Committee, which began its examins-
ton OF the Broadway Surface Railroad franchise the
first Saturday in February, 1856 Mr.. Sharp became
witness before the committee February 9, In the
sessions held at the New-York Hotel annex and in
tho Post Office Building. He testified that he was
sxtyeight years old and had lived in this city twenty
years he had formerly been In the lumber business,
had gone into the horse-railroad business here and
had built the Dry Dock Bleccker Street.
Street and Grand Street Ferry Broadway and Seventh
Avenue, Twenty third Street, Christopher and Tenth
Street and the Broadway Surface lines OF railroads.
lie kept his private accounts at the Broadway Bank
When the subject of Mr. Sharps books and accounts
was taken up there was genuine surprise tor the
committee and the spe e,tators. When the books sup
posed to be covered by the subpoena were asked tor
Mr.. Sharp produced two check books. In reply to
counsel who seemed astonshed that these were all
the books produced, Mr.. Sharp sad:
"t have other books aud have kept none for
years. except check books"
"What!" exclaimed the committees counsel. NO
books, no accounts. records, not even q diary!"
. "No, sir, not twenty years" was the ring
answer, Mr.. Sharp tapped his toes with his cane
ana awaited further questions. The examination
went on:
Q.-You have done business up in the millions, have
you not Al don't know much about that. dare
say that in all these years my expenses for living have
amounted to millions.
O. Then you have no scrap of paper anything to
show those transactions A.-Not un es' it may
be some loose slip Of paper
Q.-Have you carried them in your pOcketi A.
Yes, I've often done that.
QIliave you kept any Of themI A.-;Weil, yes,
until had used the paper up ThenT tore 1t IN pieces
aud threw IL away.
When the stubs OF the check-books examined
it found that they contained names. no debts,
only numbers. anu these we're nearly oil written In
pencil Mr.. Sharp traced the following sums as paid
out by him: Robinson, Scrbner 4 Bright $4,000
Thomas B. Kerr. $3.50, POS 81 Abraham Disbeckei.
the amounts being S65,OOO. S155,O0O, $4,000,
si7500, 81 800 and 81 800. OF the $500 $1,000
Broadway Surface Railroad bonds put out by Mr..
Sharp he the first day devoted to this matter
accounted for ,60S and the next he accounted tor
some 400 more. The remaining 500 Mr.. Sharp said
be mad in his own possession and regularly got his
money the coupons. lie had deposited at the
Broadway Bank 5etnee June 10 and July 20, 1850,
x043ClS.
Mr.. Sharp testified that he had known Billy"
Mooney tor years. He had him at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel and at the office OF Robinson, Scribner
* Bright lie declared that he lad not thought one
way another about the possibility of confronting
Keenan, Moloney IN court and that he did not care
aoout Ii ono way or another.
The paying teller OF the Broadway Bank testified
that on June 10, 1888, he paid in currency two
checks. one Tor $4,000. another tor Tl2o,OoO TO
Messrs Sharp and Richmond, while I. b. Kerr stood